John h



J. H. WHITE. PHONOGRAPH.

(No Model.)

RECORD CYL'NDER ma :mms PETERS co., mom-uma, wAsmNcrow, D, c.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

JOI-IN H. WI'IITE, OF VASIIINGTON, 'DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PHONOGRAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,524, dated November 11, 1890.

Original application tiled J une 19, 1889, Serial No. 314,813. Divided and this application tiled January 3, 1890, Serial No. 335,793. f No model.)

To all whom it may concern.I

Be it known that I, JOHN H. WHITE, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in Phonographs, of which the following is a specification, the same being a division of an application for Letters Patent for improvements in phonographs, filed by me Julie 19, 1889, Serial No. 314,813.

My invention relates to that class of instruments in which the sounds are reproduced by a diaphragm actuated by a style which traverses a record-groove in the surface of a cylinder or sheet.

The invention relates to the connection between the reproducing diaphragm and the pivoted arm or style through which it is actuated by the record-sheet.

My object is to overcome those difficulties which are experienced by the reason of the style and diaphragm being moved abnormal distances by extreme irregularities in the record.

The improvement consists, broadly, in so connecting the lever or other style-carrier that it will impart motion to the diaphragm solely by frictional contact between the parts. In the preferred form of apparatus the diaphragm is provided with a central stud or arm, against the side of which the operatinglever acts frictionally, the parts being so adj u sted that, although they move together under ordinary conditions, they may move independently when either of the parts receives an impulse of such strength or suddenness as to overcome frietional engagement. This feature of my invention is susceptible of embodiment in various equivalent forms, a number of which are illustrated in the drawings.

With the exception of the parts specifically claimed herein, the instrument may be of any approved form-such, for example, as that shown in my application for patent, April 9, 1889, Serial No. 306,497. I have therefore illustrated in the drawings only such parts as are necessary to an understanding of my improvements.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section through a phonograph havingmy improvement incorporated therein. Fig. 2 isabottom plan view of the diaphragmframe and attendant parts. Fig. 3 is acrosssection through my reproducing device in another form. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section showing the device in still another form. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view showing another form of the frictional connection. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the reproducing style or lever.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine; B, the grooved recordcylinder, which is mounted and rotated within the frame in the ordinary manner; C, the reprod ucing-diaphragm, peripherally sustained in a supporting-frame D, which latter is connected by the horizontal journals or trunnions d to a carriage d', arranged to slide on a horizontal guide d2. The movement of the carriage is effected by the feed-screw d3, located within the tubular guide and engaging the nut d4 on the carriage, whereby the diaphragm and style are caused to traverse the cylinder in the usual manner.

The diaphragm C is constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material iixed rigidly within its sustaining-frame and provided at the center with an arm t', rising perpendicularly therefrom.

E represents the reproducing style or lever, preferably made of angular form, as shown, and mounted midway of its length on a horizontal pivot e', seated in the diaphragmframe. One end of this style is adapted to enter and receive motion from the grooved record-cylinder, while the opposite end is arranged to bear directly against the arm on the diaphragm. The pressure and friction between the end of the style and the arm on the diaphragm are such that the arm operated by the cylinder will in turn vibrate the diaphragm in such manner as to faithfully reproduce the recorded sounds, while at the same time the lever and diaphragm are each permitted to move independently of the other when either is subjected to a very sudden and violent strain sufficient to-overcome the frictional resistance between the parts. A

spring e3 is commonly attached to the diaphragm-frame and arranged to act on the style, as shown in the drawings, in order to hold the lower end of the lever normally in contact with the record-cylinder and to insure the restoration of the parts to an operative po'sition after their normal relations have been disturbed. I prefer to mount the style, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in a slot or opening in a bar ci, screwed to the under side of the diaphragm-frame; but it is to be understood that it may be supported on the said frame in any appropriate manner.

In order to prevent side-play of the stylek and to maintain it properlyin position,I prefer to form it, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8,

with along transverse sleeve or bearing e5 toreceive the supporting-pivot. I recommend,

also, the use of a stop to limit the motion of the style and to prevent its end from being driven too deeply into the cylinder. In` Fig, l this stop consists of' a pin e6 inserted transversely through. the style support. y

Passing now toFigs. 3 and 4, the diaphragm is mounted and provided with an armor stud arranged to bear directly against one side of a pivoted style-in the same manner as in Figs.L

l and 2. In place,however,of the fiat spring shown in the irsxt form of the device,.a spiral spring e3 is employed, one end being connected Y by the diaphragm-frame and the other attached tothe style near its pivot;

In Figs. 5 and 6 the style is formed and pivoted to the diaphragm.- frame' in essentiaily the same manner as in the preceding figure; but instead of bearing on oney sidev only against an arm on the diaphragm its upper end is inserted throu-gh a divided clastic arm fixed to the diaphragm, (shown in Fig. 6,) the arm embracing and bearing frictionally against both sides of the style. A spring e3 bears against theA style, as in Figi. The motion of the style is limited by anadjustable stop-screw et.

In Fig. 7 is shown a diaphragm provided With a rigid perpendicular arm to bear frio.- tionally against the side of the style, and also provided with a spring-arm e6, which acts against the opposite side of thev style. In this manner the style is confined subject to a yielding or'springl pressure between the arm and the Spring.

It will be observed that in each form of my device the connection between the style and the diaphragm is atubular friotional one, and as such it is to `oe distinguished on the one hand from rigid or positive connections` and ou the other hand from connections made from india-rubber, cork, or other elastic material.

It will ot course be understood that the form of the style and the-manner of support- I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is* j l. In combination with the diaphragm, the actuating style having solely a frietional con- 1 nect'ion therewith., substan tialiy as described, whereby said parts are caused tomove in uni.-

son under ordinary conditions, but permitted receiving an excessive or violent movement. 2. The pivoted style, the spring urging the same toward the record-surface, and the dia-- phragm. having the arm connected solel-y'by frictional contact to the styl'eto vibrate tirey same,` said elements combined substantially as described. y

3. In a phonograph, the record-surface, in-

combination with the pivoted style, the stop limiting its motion toward the record-surface, the spring urging the style toward said surface, the diaphragrnand the arm on the diaphragm acting frictionally on the style.

4. In a phonograph, and in combination i with the pivoted style and the diaphragm, a

JNO. H. WHITE. Witnesses:

W. R. KENNEDY, F. STANLY ELMoRE. l

to move independently in the event of either IOO 

